Lamination and encapsulation have become essential services for printers to offer these days, so where should you start when it comes to investing in a laminator? We take a look at these unsung heroes of the print industry, what they can offer your business and how you can incorporate them into the services you offer your clients – to protect prints like pop up panels, outdoor signs and applying a protective film to, for example, car wraps.

The lamination process
There are three basic processes that come under the catch-all title of lamination:
• Lamination – single-side laminating can protect the outer surface of posters, stickers, wrappings and cards. This can be applied either cold or hot. Using heat, up to 40°C, will not only make the glue adhere to the substrate more effectively, but will also prevent the issue of ‘silvering’ – when small air bubbles are trapped under the film and distort the appearance of the finished item. Lamination is done using pressure-sensitive or single-sided heat-sensitive film.
• Encapsulation – this refers to double-sided laminating, so the entire item is sealed within two layers of film, with a sealed lip around the edge. This process requires temperatures of more than 120°C, for which a ‘double hot’ laminator is required. The encapsulation process renders the print completely waterproof and tear-proof. However, the border is necessary to ensure the integrity of the bond and the required level of protection.
• Mounting – this involves the application of self-adhesive vinyl (SAV) onto rigid substrates such as foamex, correx or dibond.

Laminating printed matter has a number of benefits, including the preservation of the print quality and the colours, conferring a professional looking finish, extending the durability of documents that are frequently handled, and minimising wrinkles, sun damage, scratches, tears, fingerprints and grease marks.

Lamination media
• Laminating films, including anti-scratch, gloss, matt, anti-graffiti, dry-wipe
• Encapsulating films come in gloss, satin or matt
• Mount film – essentially a double-sided sticker – can be applied to the faces of posters and signs so they can be attached, facing out, to the inside of windows
• SAVs applied to rigid substrates such as foamex, correx or dibond

What will investing in a laminator do for you?
Lamination is certainly a service your clients will expect, but the question is whether to invest in a laminator yourself or simply to outsource any lamination requirements to someone else. We would suggest that, unless lamination is a process you’re rarely asked for, that having your own laminator in house will make more sense.

Here are just some of the advantages of having your own laminator:
• Reduced outsourcing means savings in time and costs
• Faster turnaround for client orders
• Increased margins on jobs that require lamination
• Diversification of revenue streams
• Ability to offer clients a wider range of services

SEDO stocks a wide range of laminators, including the following:
• Easymount Double Hot models
• Easymount Single Hot models
• Easymount Sign models
• Easymount Cold models
• Kala Starter range
• Kala Mistral range
• Kala Atlantic range

If you’re not sure which type of laminator would best suit your business needs, the print experts at SEDO would be happy to discuss it with you. Call us on 01268 724570 or get in touch via the contact page on our website.